Mougli is a London based startup, specializing in providing scheduling services for SMEs. Since we first met with Gaspard & Bruno, the founders of Mougli, we knew something great would happen between our companies.

This day has arrived. Thanks to Mougli's technology, GoodBarber will be able to provide businesses with powerful booking and scheduling services inside their apps. As for Mougli's users, very soon they will be able able to offer a best-in class mobile experience to their customers.

More info about this acquisition can be found in our Press & Media page.

A typical sequence of events when a company is first created normally begins with establishing the business along with a website, and allowing it time to get on its feet before incorporating supplemental “Add-ons”, such as an application. However, as we’ve said before: apps are no longer an optional, bonus feature, but are rather a must-have for any successful business. Perhaps waiting to create an app isn’t the most strategic choice, and maybe one should even consider it a preemptive step in the entrepreneurial process.

No need to wait around for the physical business to get under way—create the app now and gain traction for later on.

What are the advantages to creating an app first and the physical business later on?

1) Market Research

Starting a product’s life cycle out correctly depends greatly on knowing the market that is being targeted, and applications offer cost and time efficient features that allow one to become informed. Analyses produced from traffic and editorial statistics available to app owners provide valuable, quantifiable data that will lead to a product crafted specifically to the demographics, habits, and interests of the market.

If delving into graphs and statistics isn’t your thing and you prefer to get your information more directly and personally, reaching out to consumers for their input is an effective, simplistic option. Surveys, chat walls, social media interaction, etc. all promote data directly from the customer himself–invaluable to any marketing strategy.

The more enjoyable it is for your user to give you data, the more willing they will be to do so. In the example below, an upcoming café is showcasing it's mouth watering products while requesting compensated feedback from consumers concerning their preferences. It's a simple way to collect data and ensure a full house of enthusiastic customers upon opening.

In addition to gaining information on what your consumers want, statistics regarding number of downloads and amount of engagement can serve as a helpful component in the process of estimating amount of demand.

2) Raising Funds in Advance

Every new business could use a little extra cash, and an increasing number of startups are proving that crowdfunding is an efficient method. Websites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo are well known for their ability to generate fast cash, and creating a similar platform in an app could be another way to go about this. If you can manage to thoroughly showcase your product and show all of the benefits it could offer, future clients will be eager to help get it going.

The app serves as a space for gathering and displaying your promotional mix: video campaigns, photos, a regularly updated YouTube channel and other social networks will provide an overall impression that can prompt people to contribute to the cause. Provide a donation link, and before you know it you will be well on your way to your goals.

3) Channel for updating future customers and keeping them engaged

Keeping your future clients excited and informed about the launch of your business is crucial, and will build anticipation and credibility that can really serve as a head start. An app that keeps the users updated and allows them to interact will build a sense of community around your brand before it has even been launched.

Various ways to maintain their interest can include contests, special features that are relevant to their interests, and of course, push notifications that keep them informed every step of the way.

Examples of features relevant to user interests can be product reviews for a beauty salon, unique recipes for a restaurant, educational podcasts for a tutoring center, etc. Putting in effort in this sense is a low-cost way to keep the customer interested and significantly raise the app user to customer conversion rate.

Don't be afraid to try this method!

An app is a very efficient promotional tool that provides valuable insight on what can be expected from the early stages of a startup, and can even act as a low cost test for those who are on the fence concerning whether or not to go forward with their business idea. All entrepreneurs should consider including it as part of their strategy—there is no question that an application will be needed sooner or later for the business, so why not adjust the timeline and reap the unique, but often overlooked benefits that will kickstart the company?

Yesterday, as you've probably already noticed in your back office, we released our new Add-Ons store in the GoodBarber back office.

In the Add-Ons store you will find some of our major free, as well as paid features. Each feature has a detailed description to help you understand how to take full advantage of it and where it can be found in your back office. If you don't see certain connectors or menus anymore in your back office, this is where they went ;)

Free Add-Ons

We decided to remove the automatic activation of some features, such as the internal Ads network, to provide these on more of an as-needed basis. We think it makes everything more simple and clear and allows you to build your back office according to your exact needs.

Paid Add-Ons

In the Add-Ons store you can also find the paid features available for purchase, like the Live+ section, the Setting API access, and the new White Label option.

Activation

To activate an Add-On, you will have to go to Add-Ons store, choose the Add-On(s) you want to activate, go to its description page, and add it by clicking on the [+Free] green button if it's a free Add-On, or on the [+Price] green button if it's a paid one (in this case you will have to purchase it before enabling it in your back office). Once the Add-On has been added, you will be automatically redirected to the page where it is displayed.

Management

Inside the Add-Ons section you have even a "Management" menu, where you can oversee and modify your Add-Ons. You can Disable them, in which case we will save all the metrics of the section, but you won't be able to use it. You can also delete the Add-On. When you do this, all information will be deleted.

Next week we will provide a more detailed showcase of this new amazing feature and all the new Add-Ons it includes. Stay tuned.

Everyone knows that there is an extraordinary bond between children and their parents. It's strong, beautiful, and nothing (or almost nothing) can come between them...well let me tell you, it's also good for business! Why? Simply because if children are too young to be consumers, their parents have no problem doing it for them. And in this case, there are no feelings of guilt. They aren't consuming for themselves, but for the well being of their little ones, and that makes the difference.

The change today comes with the increasing emergence of technology gadgets for children. This market is undoubtedly growing, and the industry is finding more and more ways that represent children in terms of sales opportunities. Parents today are part of the generation that grew up with the Internet and technology, so it is natural for them to use these tools in educating their children. Wearable devices, mobile apps, or connected objects are all innovations that can be adapted to the childhood industry, and that can easily appeal to this new generation of parents due to three fundamental characteristics.

1) Parents are worrywarts

It's a fact—parents are always worrying about their children. As soon as they have grown out of babyhood, the main concern is health: is everything functioning properly? Are they sleeping well? Later on, the concerns change, but are ever-present...what are they doing? Have they arrived at school safely? Whether it's a question of worrying or feeling the need to control the actions of their children, they are constantly trying to remain aware and asking questions when they are separated. Not a problem, new technology is here to provide the solution!

Starting from the baby's birth, there are many technological tools available to parents to help in calming their chronic anxiety. From a connected patch that monitors the child's temperature, to a health monitor that predicts sleep patterns, to teddy bear spies, there is everything you can imagine!

GPS trackers included in clothing, connected watches, there is a wide range of choice of wearable devices dedicated to children. Connected accessories are creating a lot of buzz right now in the adult world, especially with the Apple Watch, but children are eligible too! For example, the Jumpy watch, which should be released in the near future, offers a number of features: of course it gives the time, but also transforms into a fitness tracker, simple phone, game console, and even a control station for other devices connected via Bluetooth...

What more could we ask for?

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

2) Sometimes parents need a little help

Parents are only human, sometimes they can't handle everything! So in order to get some rest but to also avoid the guilt, the solution is in technology. Let's face it, having children is stressful, especially in terms of education. Thinking about everything they must learn, while keeping in mind that these little monsters are often reluctant to pay attention to what does not interest them—it can be daunting. Parents are constantly on the lookout for tips and tricks for maintaining the attention of their children and making learning everyday tasks more fun and enjoyable for everyone.

The website ChoreMonster provides a series of mobile applications to inspire children to help out with household chores through virtual rewards (access to a game) that come after each accomplished task.

Other educational problems can also be solved through technology, such as the never-ending question concerning the right way to brush your teeth, or the lack of desire to move—something seen often amongst kids.

3) Every parent has the most amazing child in the world

It's a fact true of all parents in the world: from the moment their child is born, he/she is the cutest baby on the planet, and everyone better agree! In the past, at any given point in a conversation, parents religiously showed the classic photo of their child kept conveniently in their wallet. But today, this phenomenon has become magnified, and the new playground for parents seems to be social networks—about 62% of mothers have posted pictures of their babies (under three years old) on the web in 2014 (Microsoft Research).

And believe it or not, this characteristic of today's parents can definitely be exploited! A young Dutch student created the New Born Fame, which allows infants to take selfies and post them directly on the web. This product comes in the form of a baby mobile comprised of different toys and stuffed animals that, when touched, take a selfie and send it directly to Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

This type of product can be considered excessive, as it is difficult to imagine that parents cannot control the content of the images published online. To maintain the creativity, but make the process less direct, why not just send the photos to the parents' phone, who can then decide whether or not to publish them?

Every problem has a solution!

Children represent a simple gateway that allows access to the real consumers: their parents. This market offers many opportunities that have not yet been taken advantage of, and are constantly evolving in accordance with advancing technology. So be smart, and let your children be your number one argument!

Have you worked hard on creating the perfect design for your app and would now like to reuse it in your other GoodBarber apps? This can be quickly and easily done. If you are subscribed to the Full or Advanced plan, you are able to save and reuse your past 8 design templates, which can be viewed under the My Themes section of your back office.

In this video tutorial, we will show you how to:

-Save a template for future use -Reuse a template on another app

Saving your template

Once you are satisfied with the design of your app, you can save this by creating a new template.

A picture of a mobile phone will be displayed, where you will type a title for your template into the empty field, and select the option "Current Design", which you will see under "Source". Once you click "Create", you will just have to wait a few seconds and your template will be ready for you to either use, delete, or download.

Using your template in another app

If you want to use this template on another project, you have to download it by clicking "Download" and saving the .zip file.

Once you are ready to use this template elsewhere, go to the back office of the app that you wish to apply it to. Create a new theme and give it a name, just as you did before, but this time you will choose the source "Archive" and select the .zip file you just downloaded.

After uploading the file, click "Create", and refresh the page if the design does not appear automatically. You will have the same three options again: use, delete, or download. To apply this design template to the app, click on "Use".

You will see a message in a red ibox appear asking you to confirm that you want to change the design of your app. If you are sure, click "Continue" and you will automatically be redirected to the "App" menu where you can see the preview of your app with its new beautiful design.

Remember that this process only copies the app's design, not its content—if you want to duplicate content you will have to do it manually.

Several years ago, advertising and marketing agencies started adding website development into the list of services they offered to better promote companies. Nowadays, having a digital identity is an absolute necessity for any company; a virtual place is even more important than a physical office for a brand.

Building valuable, high performing presence on mobile, as well as on the web, is not as easy as tying your shoes. More and more companies are entrusting web or media agencies with the task of taking care of their online presence, in particular on websites and social media.

A few of these agencies already have a foot in the door to the mobile world, and are able to include native mobile presence in their portfolios.

Why Native?

I suppose you want your business to be the best in town, right? To be known for your attention to detail and the great experience your clients have when they use your service. Well, this is exactly what it's all about!

A responsive web site and an HTML5 web app are only half way to perfection. The real value on mobile comes with a native app and the ability it gives us to take advantage of all the amazing features of the device. Seems obvious, but providing perfect user experience and added value to the users is so important for high mobile performance.

When promotion and communication are concerned, building your presence on just one channel or format will not work. Unity is key! Responsive websites and web apps are very important in reaching a large audience base, but a native app is the way you really start to build engagement and loyalty.

How can I offer a native app without being a native developer?

Here comes the trick!

To go native on mobile, you have to code the application in the native language of the device you want the app to run on. Moreover, it’s important to offer a very well designed solution for the specific size of the mobile device's screen, with customized details and appealing ergonomics.

It's normal for a high-performance project's price to be listed in the six-figure range. But not every business is able to fit this type of project in their budget considering the money already spent on the website and social media strategy. How many clients will it take to recover even the initial cost of a native application, let alone make a profit?

So how can you keep the cost low without forgetting about the original goal, perfection?!

Here is where GoodBarber enters the scene, or even better, its Reseller Program !

With GoodBarber, unique and customized apps can be created that don't look just like a blast of applications spit out of a mass production system.

The powerful, flexible features and connectors enable you to create apps that respond to many types of needs. From the radio with the on air streaming schedule that needs to remind its audience of the beginning of a broadcast and deliver a high quality stream, to the big event that needs an app to display its conference schedule, speakers, and ad sponsors. Or the singer that needs to showcase his new album and the calendar of tour dates, or even the tourism office wishing to create a food guide with reviews and photos of the best restaurants and bakeries via a city map.

Everything is made just once, and built automatically into a native iOS and Android app, cutting not only production costs but also the production time.

Why should a web agency use GoodBarber to create native apps for its clients?

Because the trim is what makes a house a home.

GoodBarber offers many tools to customize your app, but it also gives you the possibility to go even further—to add custom icons, modify the settings API, build special sections in HTML/JavaScript that are then natively integrated into the app, even to create a personal navigation mode from scratch.

Taking care of the web presence of a company nowadays means taking care of its reputation. Most businesses now are made online, which puts a lot of pressure and attention on the company's web image. Having an app for a company/brand doesn't just mean being present on mobile, but is also a clear sign of being up to date with the current flux of innovation. And being on mobile specifically with a native app means being the absolute best.

With GoodBarber and its "Unlimited Apps" reseller program, you will be able to offer complete web and mobile presence to your clients while keeping the budget low, but never losing the option to express your creative touch.

In May, Google Play will introduce a new content rating system for apps and games that will help consumers with their purchases.

The main goal of this new rating system is to improve app engagement by better targeting the appropriate audience. This will be done by evaluating content and respecting each country's internet advertising policies. Since the current Google Play rating scale will be replaced by this new system in May, this rating is mandatory for all developers.

Google says that the “Unrated” apps may be blocked in certain territories for specific users. If your app is not rated, Google Play has the right to delete it from the Play Store, so be sure to rate it now.

The rating will be calculated based on rules defined by an international organization (IARC), based on informations given to google by the developers about the content of their app. The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), born from a global initiative, gives a classification for games and apps, depending on the minimum age requested to use them, according to the territory where they will be sold. The IARC is composed by different classification institutions, each one corresponding to a different area in the world : - the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) - North America - Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) - Europe - Australian Classification Board - Australia - Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) - Germany - Classificação Indicativa (ClassInd) - Brazil

An app can get different ratings depending on the territory it will be downloaded from. This new way to rate apps will, as Google says, " inform consumers about the age appropriateness of your app, block or filter your content in certain territories or to specific users where legally required, evaluate your app’s eligibility for special developer programs."

How can I do it?

You just have to fill out a form for all apps on your Google Play Developer Console account. Follow these steps described in this online help.

The rating of your app will be calculated based on the answers you provide when filling the form. If you think the rating is not appropriate, you will be able to discuss about it with the IARC.

This change is very important for people who want to distribute their app with Google Play. Google says it is mandatory to rate the apps that are already published in google Play or, that will be published there. It applies also to all the updates you'll make to your apps.

We encourage you to follow the rating process asap, so that your beautiful apps remain on Google Play ;)

The remains of the first toys date date back over 2,000 years and include many indications of hide and seek and ring around the rosie. But it was not until the 17th century that the first studies were done proving the importance of play in the learning and developmental process of a child. J. Goldsteins declared that "the game is the prism through which children experience their world and the world of others".

Playing is a vital part of a child's health, as it generates positive emotions. As an only child with no cousins nearby, my childhood required a little imagination and creativity. My bunk bed became my dream home, my lamp was my friend the owl, I mixed magic potions to defend myself from monsters, all with a princess braid in my hair.

The era of the digital kid

In more recent years, I have noticed a completely new generation. Personally, I only had my first encounter with a computer in sixth grade, but nowadays kids interact with smartphones, tablets, computers, and other technological devices from the very first months of their lives.

In 2011, a survey from AVG (a company known for anti-virus software) tried to define the way in which the interaction between children and technology has evolved. Currently, the most common competency amongst children is solving a puzzle (77%) which is followed directly by using a mouse (69%). 66% of kids know how to turn a computer on and off, while only 11% are able to tie their shoes. Another survey conducted in late 2012 by Eurispes and Telefono Azzurro shows that 44% of kids use a computer for at least an hour a day and 62% of children between the ages of 6 and 9 own a phone—half of which are able to download an app.

What happens in these cases? Children can turn into passive users, trapped in a virtual reality which leaves no room for imagination. Risk for isolation, depression, and obesity then becomes a concern.

I would like to tell you about an app that really spoke to me: Giochi par bambini e ragazzi created by Davide Nonino. This is an app that encourages children to create something real with their very own hands by interacting with other children as well as their parents. It's a bit of a throwback to the world of Legos and magic kits that we all found at least once under the Christmas tree. Finally there is an application that uses current technology to encourage children to play in a more old-fashioned way.

This app is for children, but also for parents, offering them various ideas to increase moments of joy and sharing with their kids.

You can find many ideas for birthday parties, and how to entertain kids easily and naturally. Several videos are available on how to carry out these ideas, each made with the help of artistic individuals and creative parents. The activities they suggest are unique and full of creativity: they range from Mother's Day greeting cards to designing carnival masks to creating puppets, necklaces, etc.

The evolution of technology is very fast and we often don't take the time to stop and analyze it: we are okay with entering a new world without any guidance. The dangers are there, but don't mean anything: technology is not a demon we need to fight!

This application has been a great success because it represents a perfect union between tradition and modern times, the old and the new. With over 10,000 downloads and around 750 likes on Facebook, it is an option many mothers choose for interacting with their children. The application offers simple, feasible ideas that require very little resources that can be found in any home—no need to spend money. I personally feel very close to the DIY world, and I find this to be a fascinating idea!

Facebook has recently reminded us that it will be releasing the new version of its Graph API at the end of April, which will affect all apps that include integration of the popular social network.

As experienced GoodBarber users, you know that our system currently supports Facebook integration for the Like and content sharing features.

In order to integrate Facebook in its apps, GoodBarber is using some of the V1 features (the one that will expire at the end of April 2015). But don't worry, not all Facebook integration will be compromised! There are some new and exciting features that will be presented in the coming weeks.

However, for the moment we are forced to temporarily disable the Like feature, in order to update our system with the new Graph API. All other functions will remain the same.

Up until now, the two most well-known wearable devices have been the Google Glass and the FitBit, and I think it’s safe to say that one has been more successful than the other. While the FitBit can be seen sporadically amongst groups of everyday people, I cannot think of one single person I know who has been audacious enough to sport the Google Glass. Why has everyone shied away from such an impressively capable product created by a company that we all know and trust? I think Google really missed the mark in terms of relatability—it seems to have taken the futuristic concept and run with it, forgetting that its customers are humans, not wealthy robots. The term “Glasshole ” became popular for a reason—it’s not easy to wear this device without emitting a pretentious, Inspector Gadget aura that makes one unapproachable at best.

The FitBit, on the other hand, is a very discreet and non intrusive device that combines advanced technology with practicality, and provides a simple solution to an issue that almost everyone has concerns over: their health. On top of all this, it has a much more reasonable price point (it starts at just $60 while the Google Glass will put a $1,500 dent in your wallet).

Based on these examples, I have made an early-stage analysis on what I believe makes a wearable device a success or flop, from which you can make some predictions on what will happen with other, quickly approaching devices in this industry.

What must a wearable device do to be successful?

There are a number of things important in determining the success of a wearable device, the first concerning how “wearable” these accessories are for real, everyday people. The product should either go physically unnoticed, or be stylish and attractive enough for consumers to want to display it on their bodies, without having to have a science fiction vibe.

The device also needs to solve a problem that hasn’t already been addressed by smartphones. Smartphones and the apps that go with them are pretty amazing and have an extremely vast range of capabilities, so this is a big feat that requires a lot of creativity and innovation. Additionally, User Experience needs to be taken into consideration–this was a major complaint that many had about the Google Glass, as it displayed images directly in the center of the users’ vision. There cannot be anything disruptive or obtrusive happening; it should simply perform its task while going completely unnoticed. Finally, wearable devices must respect users’ rights. Many people have privacy concerns, and rightly so (this is an accessory that will literally follow you everywhere and has the power to track your every move). This sounds like the existing situation with smartphones, but in the case of wearable devices this concern is amplified, as they are even more personal and never leave one’s side.

So, if the product can manage to look good, respond to an unmet need, and be respectful of UX as well as privacy, users will certainly be interested. Additionally, if you consider the enhanced possibilities that the apps accompanying these products can bring, the chances of success are increased. Let’s take a look at the most highly anticipated item—the Apple Watch—as well as some other industries that are integrating wearable devices:

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch, which has recently been unveiled, performs a number of tasks similar to the other products in its family. It serves as a fitness tracker, a payment method, a platform for displaying apps, and also provides many functionalities of a smartphone (messaging, calendar, maps, etc.). It surpasses its “predecessor” (Google Glass) in the way that it can be considered more wearable—it’s less blatant and boasts a sleek, sophisticated design. The bottom line is that you do not have to look like a techie while wearing this product, which is something that has proven to be very important to users.

My concern about the Apple Watch is that it is not serving any purpose that the iPhone does not already. This watch will most definitely not be a replacement for a smartphone, but more of a complement that should offer unique functionalities, but does it? The prime target market for this accessory is individuals who are already Apple users (the watch requires a connection to an iPhone), which means they need to be enticed by some specific aspect that is not satisfied by their mobile device alone—I’m not sure that the Apple Watch offers something like this. However, it is coming into the market with a really strong reputation backing it up, so it will be interesting to see if it takes off.

Devices in the Medical Field

Wearable devices in the medical industry are really exciting for obvious reasons—they can save lives (this is certainly a solution to a problem), or at least greatly improve quality of life! Some examples of what to watch for include accessories that allow patients to transmit information concerning their vital signs, blood sugar levels, pain levels, unborn babies, and more to their doctors.

This would clearly be a huge advancement for the medical world, taking healthcare to the next level. They also differ from the other categories of wearable devices in the way that they do not heavily emphasize the geolocation factor (they are dedicated more to accomplishing an important task regardless of the user’s location), which lessens security concerns. Fitness trackers may also be included in this category, but I have a feeling these specifically may be on their way to becoming a thing of the past, as smartphones will soon include advanced motion sensitivity capabilities that will perform the same functions (no need to wear an extra device if you are already carrying your cell phone that can do all of this).

I anticipate that this concept will really take off as consumers start to recognize the massive benefits that it could bring, and for anyone looking for an up and coming sector to be an early adopter in (app wise), I think this is a very promising one.

Devices for Kids

The type of device being most prominently produced for children is related to GPS tracking, giving parents greater peace of mind and allowing kids to be found more easily, for those who often have this unfortunate issue. Although things are quickly changing, for the moment many kids are not the owners of GPS tracking smartphones, which makes this type of device especially useful and in demand.

Other devices becoming popular for kids include learning/activity trackers, wearable baby monitors, and even items to keep kids safe while swimming. It’s an interesting field that has not been explored a whole lot and has a lot of room for growth.

Wearable devices within all sectors are exciting and present great opportunities for everyone—the consumers for obvious reasons, but more interestingly to us is the doors this industry will open to new app possibilities. The factors discussed above will certainly play a role in the success or failure of each wearable device, but another very important aspect is the way in which the apps will enrich the products and make them more desired. Almost every device will need to be connected, in some way, to an application, and this is where GoodBarbers have the chance to put their creativity to use and start exploring ways to become involved with this new trend.

The rules have changed and so have our needs. We have become more connected and therefore more demanding—even fussy—and are always looking for the most convenient, comfortable option. The boom in e-commerce is a result of this evolution, but the commerce industry is determined to keep up with consumer needs, which is seen through offers such as pick-up services.

What we are seeing is the emergence of two types of customers: the traditionalists, being those who enjoy the physical and social aspects of a hands-on shopping experience and who don't mind spending time in a store, and the connected individuals, who put comfort, choice, and instant gratification above all.

So, what really are the differences between these two consumer behaviors? Are they doomed to eternal competition, or is it possible to reach an accord?

Physical Stores vs. E-commerce

It's clear that both of these buying methods present advantages and disadvantages, which determine the consumer's ultimate preference.

Traditional stores allow us to see, touch, and test products. While some consumers really could not care less about this physical experience, others view it as a vital part of the buying process, and are well aware that it is non-existent in e-commerce.

Another fundamental characteristic of physical stores is the social aspect. It may sound contradictory, but despite the rise in the digital world, consumers are demanding more and more human contact and social relationships than ever. Even myself, I tend to prefer grocery shopping at my neighborhood grocery store run by a friendly local rather than placing and picking up an order at a generic, non welcoming chain unit. Although the products are pretty much the same at both of these locations, sometimes this comforting, social aspect is enough to make me forget about the inconveniences of physical stores, and the advantages of e-commerce (practicality, time savings, etc).

On the other hand, I must admit that e-commerce definitely offers some considerable benefits that traditional stores do not. The price, the thorough documentation, the wide range of selection, and the instantly available customer reviews are all appealing aspects that we, as consumers, are not able to find in physical stores. I confess—I have been known to spend hours online shopping, browsing through hundreds and hundreds of products, searching for the best price.

Admit it, even if you make a point to shop in "real" shops, you take a peek here and there online to compare prices, read consumer reviews, learn about the product—in short, you enjoy some of the advantages that come with online shopping. And for those of you out there who are "pro-digital", who go to the store to test the product and get advice from the nice sales reps, only to come home and look for the product online at a lower price, we know exactly what you're up to—no point in hiding!

Don't worry, we aren't here to judge you, in the end we're all the same. We want to have our cake and eat it too; enjoy the advantages of the internet and physical commerce at the same time!

The times of scrutinizing over who will win the e-commerce vs. physical store battle are over. Instead, today marks the beginning of focusing on finding a solution that creates kind of a partnership between the two.

1) The M-Payment The huge retail chain, Walmart, has set up a digital system to integrate the smartphone as a fully functioning payment method in its stores. Customers simply scan their items in a mobile application, input their purchase total into a digital terminal, and finalize their payment. Mobile payments are becoming more and more accessible and are a major part of the digitalization of physical commerce, thus improving customer experience.

2) Geolocalization Geolocation technology could really be the key to revolutionizing physical commerce, on many levels. Apple, for example, has developed iBeacon technology to create a whole new experience for customers. This system identifies the customer's location and tracks their movements within the store, sending push notifications upon entering to welcome and explain the promotions, as well as information regarding specific products in close proximity, etc. In France, Carrefour (a supermarket chain) has developed a system that geographically guides the customer through the store based on a shopping list that they have entered in their smartphone. As it is associated with mobile payments, the system can also be used to process a payment directly on the smartphone as they are approaching the exit. The great thing about this system is that it's up to the store to adapt to the customer's behavior, not the contrary.

3) Social Network Integration The concept of sharing is a fundamental principle of this new method of consuming. We are constantly looking for an opportunity to request an opinion, advice, or just to share our findings with members of our community, and as many brands have decided to implement solutions directly from their stores, this is now possible. C&A, for example, decided to test a new idea in its store in Sao Paulo, incorporating a screen on their hangers which displays the number of "likes" each garment has obtained through a Facebook app.

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

Meanwhile, the brand Pull&Bear has undertaken a very real digitization process by creating an interactive Pull&Bear store in La Corogna, Spain. Among other features, there is a large screen that allows clients to take and post photos of outfits they are trying on to obtain the opinions of their friends, while serving as brand ambassadors at the same time, which is advantageous to both parties.

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

Pull&Bear is not the only brand to have caught on to benefits of this type of device; it is a quickly growing trend that is being seen more and more (Kiabi, Jules, etc.).

4) The Cross-Channel The cross-channel is one of the main challenges of online stores. It involves simultaneously offering customers several distribution channels and information, in order for them to enjoy the benefits of both. Physical stores are transformed into points of digital sales, offering features previously reserved for e-commerce (like product customization, complete catalogue viewing, the ability to order and pay for products online from the store, etc.). In this case, digital and physical aspects are bound to make the most of both of their advantages, offering a unique and interactive experience to the consumer. Several retailers have already tested out this concept, such as Mark & Spencer, Foot Locker, and Adidas.

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As you can see, there is no longer such a big barrier, and brands are beginning to understand that the solution lies in reflecting on a strategy to create a synergy between digital and traditional shopping. Obviously, the goal is to provide a more innovative and interactive customer experience than ever, and clearly there are many possibilities for doing this: digital loyalty cards, information and content supply, social sharing, geolocation..there is something for everyone, and the possibilities are continuing to grow.

Translated by Ali Soroka

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tag:blog.goodbarber.com,2015:rss-7505234Does Mobile have a Place in the Classroom?Mon, 09 Mar 2015 09:00:00 +0100usAli Soroka

Mobile devices have been seen as the bad guy in schools for quite some time now, and administration has fought long and hard to stop kids from bringing their beloved smartphones to class (I definitely endured a gloomy detention or two back in the day for texting during Calc). I think we can all agree that mobile devices can certainly play a negative role in school (they can be a major distraction, facilitate bullying/other inappropriate behaviors, the list goes on..), but the reality is that they are not going anywhere. Diane Barry, an 8th grade Spanish teacher describes prohibiting kids from using their phones as “an uphill battle that can never be won, but if kids can put aside their desire to text, check e-mail, and watch Netflix, mobile devices can be a great tool for everyone”. This is perhaps indicative of the fact that it’s time to start embracing smartphones and tablets in school and explore what kind of benefits they can offer in this previously controversial setting. The spread of technology is only going to increase, especially amongst youth, so if you can’t beat them, join them.

Boost Participation

Thinking back to what my high school classroom looked like on a Monday morning, I really feel bad for my teachers. They basically had to resort to methods of bribery (mostly food) to get a word out of us. Some of this lack of participation can be attributed to shy personalities, but a lot of it is also either boredom or students just not feeling any obligation to participate, as there was nothing forcing them to do so. Integrating mobile devices into class discussions can really up the level of participation, in many ways.

To solve the diffusion of responsibility issue as well as helping out the kids who are too shy to speak, teachers can utilize survey methods, where all students must reply to questions/discussions via their smart devices. Here, there is no opportunity to hide or pass off the question to another classmate—it is clear to see who is and isn’t responding, and those who are not at ease with speaking up in class have an alternative way of expressing themselves. The teacher then has a great starting point for discussions and asking students to elaborate on their initial answer, encouraging verbal participation through the resources they have gathered from mobile responses.

Games on smart devices can also be used for younger groups as a technique for mastering new concepts and maintaining their attention. We know that kids are easily enticed by computer/video games, so using this familiar hobby to disguise otherwise boring learning is a sneak attack method that has already been proven to work (i.e. the thousands of educational apps that have taken off).

When students have a smart device on hand, they will have easy access to all the information they could ever need regarding any discussion imaginable (we can probably assume that nobody is going to whip out the old encyclopedia), so they will be more inclined to chime in with relevant, interesting facts that they can instantly access from their devices. Diane has already seen success in this concept: “Students can use their phones as a quick research tool...my students use their phones to look up words in Spanish and they can also hear the pronunciation...they also use study guides that accompany online textbooks to do quick reviews before a quiz”.

Cost and Practicality Benefits

One of the largest expenditures of schools is textbooks—thousands of dollars are spent on volumes upon volumes that constantly require replacements, and are not even used by students half the time. Why not make a one time investment in a device for every student that contains all information required for any course, as well as updates itself constantly (and don’t cause scoliosis)? Better yet, join the BYOD revolution if it has general approval in your community, and eliminate the cost altogether.

There is also opportunity for cost—and sanity—savings when you consider all of the documents distributed on a daily basis to students—the paper, the ink, it really adds up quickly, and creates a chaotic jumble of never-to-be-found homework assignments stuffed into the backpack. Imagine an app where students have access to viewing and submitting every assignment and practice exercise, downloading notes and information they may have missed, creating chats and boards where they help each other prepare, etc.

By distributing all school documents electronically, giving students the alternative to record notes via photos or videos, and creating a mobile class community, overall organization could really be improved and a lot of mayhem could be avoided.

Prepare Students for Inevitable Aspects of their Future

Just as we had many class sessions dedicated to learning how to type properly and maneuver our way through Microsoft Office, kids in school now will need to learn the essentials of the technology they will be exposed to in the future. Although we can’t predict exactly what kind of technology the future holds, it’s pretty clear that at a minimum, smart devices and social networks will be very present. Being able to smoothly navigate a mobile device is a skill that will be required (or at least very useful) for pretty much every profession, so incorporating these devices into the education system early on will make for an overall more well-adapted and prepared group of individuals.

Another way to integrate mobile into potential career path preparation is by considering the addition of basic developing courses to the curriculum: teaching the very basics of coding, app building, etc. Some may find it absurd to expose kids to such complex and advanced subject matter, but it turns out some of them really enjoy it and have a knack for it! We saw a really neat example of this at the Dublin Web Summit, where a group of kids called CoderDojo was learning all about coding and technology, and they were loving it! It doesn’t hurt to provide an introduction and maybe even a head start to one of the most booming fields out there.

At this point, fighting with kids who bring mobile devices to class is a lost cause. Permitting smart phones and/or tablets to be present lets kids interact with what they are most comfortable with and interested in, keeping them more engaged and likely to actually enjoy learning.

It’s time to say goodbye to the phone in school stigma and give the idea a shot!

My name is Vanessa and I just started this week as the new Country Manager for Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Originally, I am from Hungary, but have spent almost my whole life in the Black Forest in the south of Germany. Besides my two native languages, German and Hungarian, I learned English, French and Latin.

Currently, I am studying International Business Management with concentrations in Marketing and French. During my studies, I worked for two years as the Marketing Manager in a small German company and I had the chance to gain a lot of work experience.

To improve my language proficiencies and marketing knowledge and to meet new people from all over the world, I decided to do my internship in Ajaccio at GoodBarber. I have already been to Corsica twice and I really enjoyed the island, so it is a great opportunity for me to work and live on this «Île de Beauté».

In my free time, I am passionate about motor sport, travelling, volleyball, HipHop/R&B music and dogs.

I am looking forward to working in an international and dynamic team and enjoying the Corsican way of life!

However, today I don't want to talk about the social network success stories of these brands. Rather, I want to speak to you from the perspective of a social network user about the behaviors of certain brands that drive me crazy, ultimately leading me to unsubscribe from their updates. When these behaviors are constantly recurring, they can create a negative feeling towards the brand amongst customers, even outside of social networks.

This happens to me often, and I think it occurs with a lot of you as well, so I believe it is very important to understand the magnitude and effects that certain behaviors may have on your customers' perception of your brand.

Therefore, I thought making a list of social network behaviors that agitate me the most could be useful for giving you an idea of exactly what not to do in your own business' social networking strategy.

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The Apathetic Brand

For me, this is the most unacceptable thing a brand could do on their social networks. If you are interested in being present on social networks, there is obviously some desire to create a link with the consumer, right?

When I decide to follow a brand on a social network, it's usually because I am fond of this brand, and am looking for at least a little bit of social network interaction. Nothing annoys me more than dealing with a completely non present team of representatives that cannot even respond to the comments I leave on their publications.

One of the most valuable aspects of a brand being present on social networks is having the chance to create relationships with customers: finding out their opinions and taking their comments into future consideration. But this is a two way street—you can't always expect the customer to make the first move, and if you are lucky enough to get some interaction out of them, it is imperative that you get back to them and let them know that their voice has been heard and appreciated. Otherwise, it will remain a one-way relationship, which will bore the customer and cause them to quickly move on.

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

Fan interaction is something that you should pay a great deal of attention to, so don't forget about it! Not only because you don't want to come off as rude, but also because this aspect is a large component of your brand's image and of your future user engagement. Therefore, remember your manners and be nice—this doesn't take a lot of effort and can be more beneficial in the long run than you ever imagined.

The Boring Brand

Interactivity is not only achieved through direct dialogue. You may think that it's impossible to please me, but keep in mind that your users are probably even more demanding. What I want out of a social network is to, above all, learn things about the brand that I'm following, take a look behind the scenes, laugh, and even feel special, like the brand really made an effort to give me a positive experience. How many times have you been disappointed by a brand that offers irrelevant, outdated content? While it's great to provide promotions and deals on social networks, it's not enough. Of course it's practical, but in the end, does it really add value to the business?

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

I don't follow a brand on social networks just to find out the same information that I can easily see on their website. In order for content to be interesting and appealing, it has to be exclusive. Everyone enjoys when a brand gives us a glimpse into the behind the scenes action and everyday lives of its team—it brings a sense of realness, and even privilege, that allows us to identify with them. These kind of publications blend perfectly in our newsfeeds with the posts of our friends and other familiar faces.

I love interactivity and I find it great when a brand encourages me to be involved, such as through games and contests, especially when it includes my own content. Virtual "goodies" are also a good way to make me a loyal and appreciative client; they can post gifs, animations, illustrations, ecards...I love it all!

Another fundamental point is maintaining coherence between content and brand. For example, if someone is following a cosmetic brand, it's because he or she is interested in this sector and expects to be provided with relevant content, not information on the evolution of the stock market (you get the idea!).

The opportunity offered by social networks to humanize a brand is crucial for improving customer relations and creating loyalty. There are tons of ways to offer original and compelling content for social network users...contests, prizes, behind the scenes photos of the business, it is all good as long as the content is pertinent and exclusive. So, be original and surprise your users!

The Lazy Brand

Another extremely irritating social network action is copying and pasting content. Social networks are bountiful, and often times brands are present on several; so far so good. The problem occurs when brands don't process the fact that the goal is not to automatically publish the same content on every account where they are present, and trust me, this happens more than once in a blue moon...

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

Social networks all have their own special features, which means they do not all target the same type of consumer or have the same purposes. I have several different social network accounts; I don't use them all for the same reason, and I definitely don't expect to see the same type of content on all of them. If this was the case, what would be the point of having so many?

The number of social networks is getting bigger and bigger; if you do not have something to say that is specific to each, there is no point in being present on all of them. Would you enjoy seeing three friends throughout the day, each one of them telling you exactly the same story in the exact same way? Same idea.

I often start following a brand on a social network, see a lot of potential, and rush to find and follow it on other social networks, only to immediately classify the brand as a member of the "Boring" category. What a shame to waste all of the great opportunities that could be taken advantage of throughout the wide range of social networks available at our disposal! Once again, if you are present on multiple social networks but are just repeating the same thing over and over again, there is no point in wasting your time on all of these platforms; it will just annoy the user, provide no added value, and worst of all, decrease the brand's credibility.

Before going all out with your social network master plan, make sure you know exactly what you want to communicate and how. Take the time to understand the differences between all of the social networks, evaluate the impact of your content on the users, and most importantly, diversify your content and make sure it corresponds properly to each network you are using. Don't forget that the way you choose to support your message can be just as important as the message itself. For example, the impact and objectives of a video can range widely according to many determinants: it's length, playback, etc. Keep in mind that the users following you on Facebook will probably follow you on Instagram or Twitter as well, and in order to satisfy them, you always have to be providing them with diverse content.

The Invasive Brand

You get it: social network activity by a brand must be well-planned, strategic, and above all, coherent. So, I will end this assessment of annoying behaviors with the worst one that we have all experienced at least once: the brands that publish anything at anytime, anywhere. I'm talking about the brands that literally pollute our news feeds with dozens of publications per day (most of the time irrelevant, but this goes without saying).

http://blog.goodbarber.com/video/

There are certain unspoken rules that you must respect to achieve any sense of credibility amongst social network users. The goal is not to make a post every hour to remind everyone that you exist. One day, I got sick and tired of being invaded by all of these publications that I had absolutely no interest in, and that weren't even published at times when I was available to read them, so I decided to put a stop to this. I therefore sacrificed a few minutes of my life and deleted these annoying brands from my news feed, and to be honest, I don't miss them at all! Why? Because even though they initially interested me, prompting me to follow them, they ended up bringing zero value to me and really got on my nerves.

Incessant publishing is not what will make your fans interested in you, want to visit your site, or even buy your products. The only real result of this type of behavior is that the credibility of your brand will start to diminish, your fans will discontinue reading your publications (especially if they are not pertinent), and ultimately unfollow you.

There you have it, the non exhaustive list of aggravating brand behaviors has come to an end for now, but I expect to come back and update it from time to time! Don't forget that there is always something that can be learned from a mistake, so be smart, learn from others, and don't let these missteps repeat themselves ;) There are also certain brands that I love, who have a great social network strategy, but I will leave this for next time...

"Turn your sadness into confetti. Throw it in the air and say goodbye to your cares."

Today we will showcase the happiest app ever made with GoodBarber. "Belas Mensagens ", which means "Beautiful Messages" is the app that constantly gives you a reason to smile and brings joy to your day. This app allows you to share beautiful messages with your friends and family at any moment, adding positivity to even the worst of days.

With more than 1.2 million Facebook fans and average monthly traffic of 2.3 million visitors, Belas Mensagens is a huge phenomenon in Brazil. Even their stats give us a reason to smile :)

So, let's hear what the Belas Mensagens team has to say about their app.

What is Belas Mensagens?

Belas Mensagens is a website that collects million of messages, sentences, and phrases from famous, as well as unknown people on a large variety of topics. The main goal of our website is to brighten someone's day through an image and a text they can reflect upon. Receiving the right words at just the right moment is a great reason to smile.

How did mobile become a priority for your project?

Over the past few years, the number of mobile visitors has greatly increased, a fact that really made us consider the importance of being present on mobile. Last year, mobile traffic amongst our users reached close to 50% . At that moment we realized just how important it really was to create content for our mobile users. Therefore, we focused our strategy on creating an exclusive channel where we could easily reach our media consumers on their devices.

What is the main goal of your app?

The main goal is to provide content and make it accessible to media consumers through their smartphones. Even with a responsive mobile website, there is no doubt that a native app provides a higher level of user experience. Furthermore, an app is an excellent platform for promoting engagement and building relationships with our users.

What made you choose GoodBarber?

When we first started thinking about going mobile, we did a lot of research on the mobile app market and evaluated many different options in regards to the needs of our website. GoodBarber had the features that responded best to our content needs and provided everything we needed to build a successful app, such as the WordPress social plug-in, the easily customized interface, and the option for push notifications. These are the main reasons that made us choose GoodBarber.

Has the app brought more readers?

Yes, definitely! Since we've launched the app, our users base has increased by a lot; we have gotten many positive reviews and have been able to maintain a good rating on Google Play. We are still working on the iOS launch, and believe that this will increase and retain even more users and readers.

Any advice for our readers?

Make your user your main focus. An app is really successful when it is able to deliver exactly what the user is looking for. Keep this advice in mind and use your app to respond to the needs of your audience. Try promoting your app through your communication channels: site, blog, social media, and even offline campaigns.

It's here: the new and improved version of your back office, GoodBarber 3.5! Our team of developers has put itself into the mindset of a GoodBarber user and spent a lot of time exploring the platform in search of ways it can be simplified and made more enjoyable. We think the result is pretty great!

Lesia Pietri, head of the project, describes 3.5: “The goal of 3.5 is to give users a straightforward, guided path to the creation of their apps through clearer steps and updated tools. With creating the most Beautiful Apps always being our objective, we are now offering the Unsplash photo feature—something that emulates the definition of beautiful design”.

Advanced User Experience

We have always put our users first—making sure that you have the most painless, smooth sailing, and even fun experience while creating your app is what we aim for. So it makes sense that as the needs of our users evolve, so does our platform. GoodBarber 3.5 provides a more intuitive, user friendly interface than ever, allowing you to spend less time navigating and more time beautifying your app!

We started by giving the old app building path a makeover—it nows include seven very detailed steps, bringing you all the way to the publication of your app. To supplement the guided creation process, we added in helpful tooltips throughout the platform (that you can choose to deactivate any time) and reorganized the menu displays, providing an overall more natural flow to the backend.

Enhanced Design

Now comes the fun part: the new design options! Thanks to our friends at Unsplash, we have been able to add a huge gallery full of gorgeous, original images, all available for your enjoyment and use! We have also included new filter options to spruce up your images (a black and white filter as well as a blur filter), updated templates, and chance for further, more precise customization than before.

Even better, you can now preview your app on additional devices, as well as in landscape mode on the iPad, providing a more thorough point of view.

Time to try it out!

GoodBarber 3.5 is up and running; don't hesitate to start exploring and turning your projects into beautiful apps! Let us know what you think.

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tag:blog.goodbarber.com,2015:rss-7367697App Rejections from Apple: Main Reasons and How to Make a Comeback Mon, 16 Feb 2015 09:00:00 +0100usAli SorokaWhat’s wrong with my app?

First you need to pinpoint exactly what went wrong. Apple will send you an email with a yes or no decision, but they will not provide the explanation you are hoping for in this message.

You will need to go to your iTunes Connect account, and check the Resolution Center (a red link on the Version page of your app). There lies a more explicit explanation on what went wrong during the review. Apple may also provide screenshots or crash logs with messages, so don’t forget to have a look at the attached files as well. Doing this may be the simplest and quickest way to get answers to your questions.

Here are some of the most common reasons for rejection that we see here at GoodBarber:

Metadata Rejected

If your app has to be rejected by Apple, a metadata rejection is the best case scenario! This means that the review has only just been interrupted and can be resumed once you provide the missing information. In this case, you haven’t lost your place in the review line, and will not need to upload a new binary once you are done making the changes.

The type of “missing information” that can cause this is most often an incomplete submission form, not providing a demo login account, lack of configuration instructions, or even outdated contact information. It is an easily avoidable situation usually caused by carelessness!

Misleading , fraudulent, or irrelevant information in the app's description can also be problematic. If the way in which you describe your app isn't in total alignment with the actual content of the app, this will not fly.

Metadata rejection can also be due to a screenshot issue, such as not enough screenshots, an irrelevant , useless, or misleading screenshot, or a screenshot that is not appropriate for all audiences (even if you have specified your app is for 17+).

Binary Rejected

If your app has been binary rejected, a little more work will be required for you to make a comeback. Some of the most common reasons for binary rejection are as follows:

Get rid of the bugs before Apple catches them. Test your app over and over again and ask your friends to test it out too, as they will catch things that you may have overlooked. Your best bet is to go to the Test page of the My GoodBarber App, which will enable you to test the Native preview of your app. Most importantly, you will be prompted to download the test (Ad Hoc) version of your app, which is identical to what your users (and the Apple review team) will see, so this is crucial. Careful examination of all of these should reveal any problems or bugs which the GoodBarber support team can certainly help you to resolve before submission. Apart from bugs, be sure that the testing reveals all of your links to be working properly, including the required link to contact information.

Undesirable content being present in an app is a common reason for rejection. Undesirable content can obviously include inappropriate or offensive subject matter, but could also be signs of Apple’s competitors (such as Android devices, Windows phones, etc.) being present (see section 3.1 of the Developer Guideline), whether pictured or referred to. Content that may be copyrighted is also a red flag for the review team, and you might need to show proof that you have legal rights to all of the content in your app, so be prepared to do so.

Beautiful design is very important to Apple (you’re in luck because design is our specialty here at GoodBarber!), and a lot of emphasis is placed on User Experience. There are very strict design guidelines that must be followed in order to be up to Apple’s standards, and it is important to read these over and make sure you are in compliance before submission. You need to make sure your app has a simple, intuitive, and attractive interface, and is 100% ready for customer download (this means no content placeholders!). Think about the type of product Apple puts out—shiny, sleek, classy, and overall gorgeous. Keep this standard in mind, and listen to Apple’s words of advice: “If your App looks like it was cobbled together in a few days….or if your app is plain creepy, it may not be accepted”.

Consider the overall value of your app in terms of what is already out there. Your app may be perfectly crafted, free of bugs, and the loveliest thing you’ve ever seen, but does it offer something better than the other apps already in the store? If the review team believes that there is not a lot of demand for your app and it has nothing useful or unique to bring the table, it will be rejected. So do your homework: try to get a feel for the demand in your market, check out your competition, and figure out how to differentiate yourself.

Now what?

Hopefully after having realized why you were rejected, you have a second wind and are ready to make the necessary changes! In Apple’s own words, “If you run to the press and trash us, it never helps.” You may be frustrated and angry, but going online and badmouthing Apple’s review team will get you nowhere! In order to continue with your efforts, you should first make sure you completely understand the grounds on which you were rejected. If the reason given in your Resolution Center is not clear enough, or if you feel it’s inaccurate (Apple can be wrong too, sometimes!), you can send a message and ask them for further clarification. They will provide a more detailed explanation and answer your questions.

If your app has been Metadata rejected, just fix the issue and submit the app review again, there is no need to upload a new binary (.ipa file). If it has been binary rejected, you will need to fix the issue, as well as upload a new binary, and then you may resubmit it for review. If you are unsure where to begin, the GoodBarber team is happy to help you—you’re not alone! Just send us the whole report that is in your Resolution Center (including the screenshots) via a support ticket, and we will come to your rescue! If you feel that there has been a misunderstanding and they have made an incorrect or unfair conclusion, you can submit an appeal to Apple’s Review Board.

It isn’t the end of the world if your app is rejected, because you can always try again. However, to avoid this hassle in the first place and the annoying wait period during a second review of your app, read our previous article on how to prevent being rejected and follow the steps closely. You should have nothing to worry about!

Today we are synching our showcase to a radio that is boosting the moods of young listeners all across Portugal. Hiper FM is a special radio that not only broadcasts pop and rock music, but also provides content about the entertainment industry and brightens the lives of its listeners on a daily basis!

Let's turn the station to Hiper FM team's interview and find out what they had to say about their GoodBarber app!

What is Hiper FM?

Hiper FM is a Portuguese radio that was created in the center of Portugal, in Santarém district, and targets a young audience (15-24 years old). Our tone of communication is young, causal, cool, and humorous to trigger a few laughs in our listeners. Basically it's a radio for young people that broadcasts exactly what they are looking for nowadays.

How has mobile become a priority for your radio?

Following the needs and concerns of our target market is our priority. We cannot ignore the shift of the entertainment sector (radio, music, movies) towards mobile, and therefore, we must follow this trend. We want to be present in all platforms that provide value to our business, and mobile is definitely one of them.

What is the main goal of your app?

Following our listeners everywhere is our main goal. This concerns not only giving them the chance to listen to our radio at all times, but also providing them with interesting news, such as viral videos, celebrities, playlists, etc. We want our users to have the best experience possible in regards to the type of content we display on our website; this is why having an native app in their smartphones is highly important.

What made you choose GoodBarber?

We were looking for a service that allowed us not only to build an app, but to be able to manage it and have control over it too. Having the option to update the app at any time, send instant push notifications, be a part of the development process, and most importantly, have access to the type of excellent support that GoodBarber provides were definitely some determining factors in our decision to use GoodBarber.

Do you see your app increasing your number of listeners?

Our app will attract media consumers even more than listeners, as we have the option to send push notifications and provide relevant, real-time news to our users. All of the functionality that GoodBarber allows access to (push notifications, etc) will definitely boost the growth of our app.

Any advice for our readers?

Try GoodBarber! The backoffice provides all the tools necessary to create and customize your native and web app to meet the needs of your business.

My name is Silvia; I am the new country manager who has just landed in Ajaccio to take care of the Italian market. I was born in a small village near Vincenza (not far from Venice) where I spent my childhood daydreaming. As soon as I had the chance, I started travelling and spending time living in different cities. I spent the past two years in Paris, which I love everything about..the little back alleys and beautiful perfumes will always be close to my heart! However, I'm not afraid of change, and I can't wait to discover the magnificent views in Corsica.

Between Paris and Bologna, I did a Bachelors in Communications and a Masters in Film. For the past couple of years I have worked in several fields: theatre film production, public relations at communication agencies, event planning for social networks, as well as in journalism.

After having covered the full spectrum of the Communications field, I fell in love with digital. I worked at an e-commerce website for almost a year, and now I'm ready for a new challenge!

In my free time I like to lose myself in a book, discover everything around me, take little trips, and write :)